9.27.2009

i've been biddy biddy. let me back it up to about a month ago when i took a trip to Animal Rescue League of Boston. Ruh rooo.. what's going on? i haven't been that bad have i??

actually i met Dr. D'Arpino, a veterinarian behaviorist (gulp gulp) who is guiding us in my 'behavior' plan--ookay! well, the appointment didn't involve needles, thermometers, or stuff like that.. all i heard for about an hour was:

Then finally someone paid attention to me. Dr. D'Arpino introduced me to 3 doggies with a baby gate between us. A little guy, a medium guy, and a big Mastiff. The Mastiff who supposedly is always calm.. started reacting to me before I even met him- as if!

Anyway, that's when the diagnosis came: she said i am highly reactive due to anxiety and I am not reading or understanding doggie body language especially when calming signals are being used. BUT, my prognosis is fair to very good to be able to interact other pups if I work on these things.

The master plan:

1- continue training class- duh2- nothing in life is free philosophy. (meaning i have to work for everything)3- increase mental stimulation- huh?4- medication to reduce anxiety- we'll give it a try.5- start training with non-reactive doggies. those who can give me good calming signals.any volunteers? :)

9.19.2009

wroo.. today another 8 week session of Ruffian's class starts. you know, i'm on the lifetime enrollment plan. but! Paul said NO doggies on the first day! double wroo wroo.. mom has to go &let's see, i will be umm... taking ze napperz!

Tula's Story

Rescued from the Streets of Brooklyn

I'm an akita girl from Brooklyn --who was just wandering the streets all by myself & hanging out in the junkyard. That was until the summer of 2007, NYC Animal Control Officers picked me up. I was in rough shape.. very hungry, dirty, and my fur was full of tar . When they brought me to the NYC Animal Care Center, I didn't like the kennels or the strange people trying to touch me. The evaluator used words like rowdy, severe behavior problems, and blah blah blah. Before I knew it, I was off to live with Bonnie who runs a foster home out in the Berkshires of Western MA. In some cases, they call her when a dog has a hard time being kenneled (guess who?!). Once my picture was posted on Petfinder.com, my mom came to visit me. She was looking for her favorite breed, Akita.. ME.. someone cute.. ME.. a large dog.. ME (shhh i'm more like XL).. someone who could live in an apartment... ME?! Well, long story short, I found a new home in the Metrowest area of Boston, MASS. Whew..life isn't so bad anymore! except now I have a boston & brooklyn accent. fuggeddaboutit!

TACT: A Training Program for Dogs that Are Fearful or Reactive Towards People

yours truly is in the DVD! check it out! Click on the picture.

Understanding Reactive Dogs

Tula is a reactive dog. What?

In the book, Control Unleashed, Leslie McDevitt defines reactivity as follows:

Reactivity comes from anxiety, a feeling of uncertainty about something.

It is an information-seeking strategy. A reactive dog will rush toward something or someone that she is uncertain about, barking, lunging, growling and making a big display.

People sometimes perceive reactive behavior as aggression, but a reactive dog is not rushing in to do damage; she is attempting to assess the threat level of a given situation.

Her assessment strategy is intensified because she is panicking as the adrenaline flows through her body.

People sometimes perceive reactive behavior as "dominance" because they view a dog that flies at her triggers as a dog that wants to take charge. This is absolutely not the case.

Reactive dogs are anxious, and their response is intense because they are "freaking out".

Tula has participated in special Reactive Dog-training classes with author of Click to Calm, Emma Parsons and ruffian's class with Paul Emerson. Good News! she has graduated to a 'regular' dog basic obedience class (Good Dog 201) & improving all the time!